UN cites 'ethnic cleansing' concerns around Israel's Palestinian displacement operation in Hebron

Israel 's military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron – launched after a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen – raises serious concerns of "ethnic cleansing", the United Nations warned Monday. The municipality in Hebron, which is the Palestinian territory's largest city, said in a statement that 3,189 people had been forced from their homes by the ongoing operation. Read more Israeli forces displace 2,000 Palestinians in Hebron after deadly attack on soldiers It followed Friday's attack in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers at a checkpoint near the city, just days before Tuesday's Israeli elections .

The gunmen were killed in a shootout. Israeli troops entered the Hebron neighbourhood of Ein Deir Baha, where the two assailants lived, and ordered residents to pack up and leave. West Bank: Families forcibly displaced in Hebron To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading.

To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Cover image: © France 24 01:44 Israel's "aggressive operation" has already resulted in the forcible displacement of thousands of Palestinians, "demolished homes and commercial property, and deprived residents of the ability to move freely", UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement. "The sweeping steps taken raise grave concerns of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force – which must end."

He said the lockdown was confining many to their homes and immediate neighbourhoods. "Declarations by senior Israeli government officials indicate that the measures implemented are punitive in nature and designed to instil fear. This is unacceptable," said Turk. "Those who have been displaced must be allowed to return home. Israel must ensure compensation and reparation for unlawful evictions and demolitions, and associated displacement.

"Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing." Read more Israel to close all West Bank land crossings on election day Speaking earlier in Cairo, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply alarmed by Israeli actions in the West Bank. "Evictions are unrelenting with Palestinians driven from their lands. Settler violence is surging," he said.

"We are seeing an increasingly coercive environment, with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger. This must end." Read more How Israeli settlers wearing keffiyehs are attacking West Bank olive groves Guterres said there could be no durable peace in the Middle East "without the realisation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination". (FRANCE 24 with AFP)